Welcoming the engagement of American singer Nick Jonas with Bollywood-Hollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, Hindus are urging Jonas to be more conversant with Hinduism and its concepts for the better foundation of the union.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, commended the couple for reportedly going through hours-long ancient Hindu pooja rituals in traditional attire at their engagement ceremony in Mumbai on August 18; which included Lord Ganesha worship, havan, aarti, etc.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, suggested that Jonas should spend some time in an ashram (hermitage) in India, take a dip in holy Ganges River and read some ancient Hindu scriptures—Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad-Gita. He or other Hindu scholars would be glad to help, Zed added.

It is believed that bath in the sacred Ganges purifies one of all sin, and its water if taken daily confers immortality. It finds mention inRig-Veda; oldest existing scripture of the mankind, Rajan Zed points out.

Wishing the couple well, Zed indicated that ashram stay would help bring Jonas tranquility, spirituality and serenity. Members of English rock band “The Beatles” spent long periods at a Rishikesh ashram on the Ganges river bank. Lord Krishna himself went to sage Sandipani’s ashram to gain knowledge.

It is always helpful to understand where your partner is coming from in spiritual/religious sense, because it is incorporated into one’s personal identity; Rajan Zed notes.

Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and moksha (liberation) is its ultimate goal.